EVERETT — For a local nonprofit, grants help bridge the gap in funding to reach kids at risk of falling behind their peers.
The Little Red School House serves children under 3 years old who have developmental disabilities or who are at risk of becoming delayed.
While government funding is available for kids with developmental disabilities, those at risk of lagging behind usually are not covered, said Colleen Wartelle, the nonprofit’s development director for grants.
The group relies on grants and individual donations to raise about 20 percent of its budget. It recently received $40,000 in grant money to support children in homeless shelters and to improve technology used by staff.
One of the grants, for $30,000, came from Boeing’s Employee Community Fund and will help pay to upgrade technology used by therapists and social workers.
“For nonprofits, that is the aspect of our work that is often overlooked. That’s what keeps for-profit businesses cutting edge,” Wartelle said.
The organization is adding 17 laptops with docking stations and 21 cell phones. That means workers will be able to take their work with them to families’ homes, Wartelle said. They can help clients schedule appointments and look up information on the spot.
The remaining $10,000 from the EverTrust Foundation just arrived last month, she said. The grant will help pay for the program that supports families living in homeless shelters.
As community organizations scramble to provide services for the whole family, children’s developmental needs are not addressed properly, she said. They often lag behind their peers as a result.
“It really allows us to send our workers into the shelters to try and help those kids to at least receive the kind of early learning opportunities that other children have,” Wartelle said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
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